MovieChat Forums > Dallas (1978) Discussion > Why Shouldn't Bobby Divorce Pam?

Why Shouldn't Bobby Divorce Pam?

posted 9 years ago by Withrow68
11 replies | jump to latest

Why was Pam so stunned when Bobby asked her for a divorce? She had separated from Bobby twice in their 4-5 year marriage. The first time was when she blamed Bobby because J.R. refused to role over and play dead for Cliff. Then, she essentially accuses him of being responsible for her mother's death and tries to use that guilt trip as emotional leverage to get Bobby to give up his inheritance. She invites him over when she gets horny and then dismisses him. Did she have an expectation that they should just repeatedly separate and reconcile based on her day and her mood? What else should she expect?

[–] radrobd 9 years ago

She was stunned because she knew Bobby still loved her and she loved Bobby, despite their differences. She wanted to reconcile, but thanks to J.R. and Katherine's interference, Bobby thought she didn't. So he agreed to the divorce. That's why she was surprised.

[–] alanjobe 9 years ago

I love that scene between the two of them when Bobby tells her he wants to go through with the divorce. Both actors were really good in that scene.

[–] Rajesh_pimp06 9 years ago

Pam should have listened to Afton, she knew what Katherine was up to.

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[–] radrobd 9 years ago

Yup, but Pam was kind of naive. Katherine was her sister and Pam trusted her. But they didn't grow up together and didn't have a sisterly-bond (at least Katherine didn't).

[–] Stratego (31081) 7 months ago

Afton was completely out of her mind raging and Cliff for not caring what happened between Bobby, Pam and Katherine.

[–] hnt_dnl 9 years ago

That was all Katherine. Even Pam and Bobby didn't buy Katherine's crap about J.R. being behind the divorce. J.R. may have wanted them apart, but Katherine was the schemer who really made it happen.

[–] Rajesh_pimp06 8 years ago

It still backfired on Katherine in the end though, because Bobby still wasn't remotely interested her, and Bobby and Pam still got back together in the end. JR also tricked her by saying he played the tape of them being in bed to Bobby and she fell for it, making Bobby despise Katherine for teaming up with JR. Katherine broke them up but she only did that to get Bobby for herself, but he was never interested in her.

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[–] sjbradford 9 years ago

Pam was stunned because she was a malignant narcissist. She couldn't BELIEVE that Bobby would divorce her because she thought everyone's world revolved around her.

[–] theworldastage 9 years ago

I didn't enjoy what Pam did at times, believe me, but I'm more pro facts than anything and that goes for every character - whether I like them or not. And those events didn't quite happen that way.

She didn't separate from Bobby that first time. She just couldn't live at Southfork anymore after J.R. kept going out of his way to ruin Cliff including FRAMING HIM FOR MURDER. But only Bobby is allowed to decide where they live? Even with Pam gone, J.R. still went as far as setting her up in a compromising photo that is published in the newspaper which humiliates her in front of thousands? millions? of people, including her family, friends, acquaintances and everyone she knows. DESPITE THAT, Bobby wants her to forget it (again) and come back to Southfork, even though she wasn't up to facing J.R. But she comes back anyway, for Bobby. Yet later, the moment Bobby doesn't like something J.R. does - wheelin' and dealin' in business which J.R. has ALWAYS done - the next morning Bobby makes Pam move out with him and he doesn't allow her to say goodbye to Miss Ellie.

As for Pam's mother's death, the "battle for Ewing Oil" was responsible (whether directly or indirectly) and even J.R. stated it from his own mouth. Bobby already got/would receive his inheritance whether or not he won Ewing Oil.

Pam didn't invite him over because she was "horny". They didn't plan or expect it. They clearly kissed goodnight and then got caught in the moment. She didn't dismiss Bobby - he thought sex meant she would go back to Southfork.

So the first "separation" was from Southfork/J.R., not Bobby. The second started out with her needing time apart and then it turned into a full blown separation.

[–] Stratego (31081) 10 months ago

Hear hear, especially your description of Bobby. I found it to be absolutely insane he wasn't willing to leave Southfork to save his marriage. Bobby was such an entitled brat.

That said, Pam did use Bobby with that one night thing while they were seperated. She didn't want to be with him, but she did not want to cut ties either.

[–] sage2112 8 years ago

Pam was an incessant whiner. I would say that no girl is THAT fine and worth all that misery, but VP was one of those very few.